West Brom look at Premier League defender after failure in Tavernier chase

The Hawthorns during the The FA Cup match between West Bromwich Albion and Gateshead at The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, England on 3 January 2015. Photo by Alan Franklin.

West Brom are looking at bringing in Crystal Palace right-back Joel Ward, according to reliable journalist Alan Nixon.

After failing in their chase to sign Rangers right-back James Tavernier, West Brom are keen to bring in defender Joel Ward from Premier League side Crystal Palace.

It was reported on a busy transfer deadline day that West Brom had a £2m rejected by Rangers for former Newcastle United defender James Tavernier. And since, The Baggies have been put off returning for Tavernier after manager Steven Gerrard slapped a £7m asking price on the head of the defender.

West Brom manager Darren Moore is still in the market for right-back reinforcements as they look to make their way back to the Premier League. He will be even more eager to bring in a new right-back after yesterday’s 3-4 victory against Norwich at Carrow Road. Baggies fans labelled starting right-back Allan Nyom’s as ‘shocking’ after an embarrassing performance yesterday.

28-year-old Ward comes with bags of experience. The defender is going into his seventh season at Selhurst Park, and has made 206 appearances for Palace. Ward has also made 111 appearances at Championship level, which would provide some valuable Football League experience to West Brom’s back line.

Ward has been a staple in Palace’s starting eleven for the past few seasons now, but his days could soon be numbered with the breakthrough of youngster Aaron Wan-Bissaka – who started ahead of Ward in Palace’s curtain raiser against newly promoted Fulham yesterday.